Method of wireless communication between base station and mobile station and multiple access communication system

Claim 2

A communication method for communicating among a base station and a plurality of substations using a communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field following the frame synchronization field, and an information field following the request field, the information field including an access permission area and a data area following the access permission area, the communication method comprising the steps of: transmitting synchronizing information from the base station to the substations in the frame synchronization field; transmitting access request information from a source substation to the base station in the request field, the source substation being one of the substations and being a substation from which it is desired to transmit data; transmitting access permission information from the base station to the source substation in the access permission area of the information field; and transmitting data from the source substation to at least one of the base station and a destination substation in the data area of the information field, the destination substation being one of the substations.

Claim 3

A communication method according to claim 1, wherein the request field includes a plurality of request slots; and wherein the access request information is transmitted in one of the slots of the request field.

Claim 4

A communication method according to claim 2, wherein the information field includes a plurality of slots each including an access permission area and a data area following the access permission area; and wherein the access request information includes a number of slots of the information field required to transmit the data from the source substation.

Claim 5

A communication method according to claim 3, wherein the access request information includes an address of the source substation; wherein the access permission information includes the address of the source substation; and wherein the address of the source substation in the access permission information is obtained from the access request information.

Claim 6

A communication method according to claim 2, wherein the access request information includes an address of the source substation; wherein the access permission information includes the address of the source substation; and wherein the address of the source substation in the access permission information is obtained from the access request information.

Claim 7

A communication method according to claim 1, wherein the information field includes a plurality of slots each including an access permission area and a data area following the access permission area; and wherein the access request information includes a number of slots of the information field required to transmit the data from the source substation.

Claim 8

A communication method according to claim 6, wherein the access request information includes an address of the source substation; wherein the access permission information includes the address of the source substation; and wherein the address of the source substation in the access permission information is obtained from the access request information.

Claim 9

A communication method according to claim 1, wherein the access request information includes an address of the source substation; wherein the access permission information includes the address of the source substation; and wherein the address of the source substation in the access permission information is obtained from the access request information.

Claim 10

A communication method for communicating among a base station and a plurality of substations using a communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field following the frame synchronization field, and an information field following the request field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots and a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots, the communication method comprising the steps of: transmitting access request information from a source substation to the base station in the request field, the source substation being one of the substations and being a substation from which it is desired to transmit data; transmitting access permission information from the base station to the source substation in one of the transmission slots of the information field; transmitting data and a destination address identifying a destination substation from the source substation to at least one of the base station and the destination substation in the transmission slot in which the access permission information was transmitted, the destination substation being one of the substations; and transmitting reply information from the destination substation to at least one of the base station and the source substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the access permission information, the data, and the destination address were transmitted.

Claim 11

A communication method for communicating among a base station and a plurality of substations using a communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field following the frame synchronization field, and an information field following the request field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots and a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots, the communication method comprising the steps of: transmitting access request information from a source substation to the base station in the request field, the source substation being one of the substations and being a substation from which it is desired to transmit data; transmitting access permission information from the base station to the source substation in one of the transmission slots of the information field; transmitting data and a destination address identifying a destination substation from the source substation to at least one of the base station and the destination substation in the transmission slot in which the access permission information was transmitted, the destination substation being one of the substations; and transmitting reply information from the destination substation to at least one of the base station and the source substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the access permission information, the data, and the destination address were transmitted.

Claim 12

A communication method according to claim 9, wherein the request field includes a plurality of request slots; and wherein the access request information is transmitted in one of the slots of the request field.

Claim 13

A communication method according to claim 10, wherein the access request information includes an address of the source substation; wherein the access permission information includes the address of the source substation; and wherein the address of the source substation in the access permission information is obtained from the access request information.

Claim 14

A communication method according to claim 10, wherein the data and the destination address are transmitted from the source substation to the base station and the destination substation; wherein the reply information indicates whether or not the destination substation has received the data and the destination address from the source substation; and wherein the base station receives the data and the destination address from the source substation, receives the reply information from the destination substation, and retransmits the data and the destination address to the destination substation in another one of the transmission slots in a current communication frame or in one of the transmission slots in a next communication frame if the reply information indicates that the destination substation did not receive the data and the destination address from the source substation.

Claim 15

A communication method according to claim 9, wherein the access request information includes an address of the source substation; wherein the access permission information includes the address of the source substation; and wherein the address of the source substation in the access permission information is obtained from the access request information.

Claim 16

A communication method according to claim 13, wherein the data and the destination address are transmitted from the source substation to the base station and the destination substation; wherein the reply information indicates whether or not the destination substation has received the data and the destination address from the source substation; and wherein the base station receives the data and the destination address from the source substation, receives the reply information from the destination substation, and retransmits the data and the destination address to the destination substation in another one of the transmission slots in a current communication frame or in one of the transmission slots in a next communication frame if the reply information indicates that the destination substation did not receive the data and the destination address from the source substation.

Claim 17

A communication method according to claim 9, wherein the data and the destination address are transmitted from the source substation to the base station and the destination substation; wherein the reply information indicates whether or not the destination substation has received the data and the destination address from the source substation; and wherein the base station receives the data and the destination address from the source substation, receives the reply information from the destination substation, and retransmits the data and the destination address to the destination substation in another one of the transmission slots in a current communication frame or in one of the transmission slots in a next communication frame if the reply information indicates that the destination substation did not receive the data and the destination address from the source substation.

Claim 18

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot.

Claim 19

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot.

Claim 20

A substation according to claim 16, wherein the request field includes a plurality of request slots; and wherein the means for transmitting the access request information transmits the access request information to the base station in one of the request slots.

Claim 21

A substation according to claim 17, wherein the access request information includes: the address of the substation; and a number of the transmission slots required to transmit the data from the substation to the other substation.

Claim 22

A substation according to claim 17, further comprising: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots.

Claim 23

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; wherein the request field includes a plurality of request slots; wherein the means for transmitting the access request information transmits the access request information to the base station in one of the request wherein the substation further comprises: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots; wherein the information field further includes a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots; and wherein the substation further comprises: means for determining if the received data was correctly received; and means for transmitting, if the received data was not correctly received, reply information indicating that the received data was not correctly received to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the received data was transmitted by the other substation.

Claim 24

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; wherein the request field includes a plurality of request slots; wherein the means for transmitting the access request information transmits the access request information to the base station in one of the request wherein the substation further comprises: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots; wherein the information field further includes a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots; and wherein the substation further comprises: means for determining if the received data was correctly received; and means for transmitting, if the received data was not correctly received, reply information indicating that the received data was not correctly received to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the received data was transmitted by the other substation.

Claim 25

A substation according to claim 16, wherein the access request information includes: the address of the substation; and a number of the transmission slots required to transmit the data from the substation to the other substation.

Claim 26

A substation according to claim 21, further comprising: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots.

Claim 27

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; wherein the access request information includes: the address of the substation; and a number of the transmission slots required to transmit the data from the substation to the other substation; wherein the substation further comprises: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots; wherein the information field further includes a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots; and wherein the substation further comprises: means for determining if the received data was correctly received; and means for transmitting, if the received data was not correctly received, reply information indicating that the received data was not correctly received to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the received data was transmitted by the other substation.

Claim 28

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; wherein the access request information includes: the address of the substation; and a number of the transmission slots required to transmit the data from the substation to the other substation; wherein the substation further comprises: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots; wherein the information field further includes a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots; and wherein the substation further comprises: means for determining if the received data was correctly received; and means for transmitting, if the received data was not correctly received, reply information indicating that the received data was not correctly received to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the received data was transmitted by the other substation.

Claim 29

A substation according to claim 16, further comprising: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots.

Claim 30

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; wherein the substation further comprises: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots; wherein the information field further includes a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots; and wherein the substation further comprises: means for determining if the received data was correctly received; and means for transmitting, if the received data was not correctly received, reply information indicating that the received data was not correctly received to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the received data was transmitted by the other substation.

Claim 31

A substation in a communication system, the substation being any one of a plurality of substations in the communication system, the substations having mutually different addresses, the communication system including a base station, the base station and the substations communicating with one another using a communication frame, the communication frame including a frame synchronization field, a request field, and an information field, the information field including a plurality of transmission slots, each of the transmission slots including an access permission area and a data area, the base station including means for transmitting synchronizing information to the substation in the frame synchronization field, means for receiving access request information from the substation, and means for transmitting, in response to the received access request information, access permission information to the substation in the access permission area of one of the transmission slots, the substation comprising: means for receiving the synchronizing information from the base station and identifying the request field based on the received synchronizing information; means for transmitting the access request information to the base station in the identified request field when it is desired to transmit data from the substation to another one of the substations; means for receiving the access permission information from the base station; and means for transmitting, in response to the received access permission information, the address of the other substation and at least part of the data to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; wherein the substation further comprises: means for detecting if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots, thereby indicating that another one of the substations has transmitted the address of the substation and data to be received by the substation in the data area of the one transmission slot; and means for receiving the data which has been transmitted by the other substation if the address of the substation is present in the data area of any one of the transmission slots; wherein the information field further includes a plurality of reply slots, each of the reply slots being paired with a respective one of the transmission slots; and wherein the substation further comprises: means for determining if the received data was correctly received; and means for transmitting, if the received data was not correctly received, reply information indicating that the received data was not correctly received to at least one of the base station and the other substation in the reply slot paired with the transmission slot in which the received data was transmitted by the other substation.